I’m Not Playing By Hustle Culture Rules Anymore
We have the power to decide how we spend our time
I grew up with some very traditional views of career success. Work hard, prove your value, and rise to the top.
My dad began his career as a social worker and eventually became the CEO of a nonprofit. I spent my college years working at a bank, watching smart loan officers work long hours and enjoy the commission they’d earn. I was surrounded by examples of white-collar career acceleration… no matter the cost, it was worth the financial freedom and power it would bring.
Like many women, I read Sheryl Sandberg’s 2013 book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. At the time, it was a rallying cry. Sandberg wrote, “Don’t expect that you’ll get to the corner office by sitting on the sidelines.” Women needed to assert themselves and know their value.
While Sandberg brought up some very real issues around gender disparities in the workplace, she was also reaffirming many concepts of hustle culture. Play by the rules, and you’ll climb the ladder. Her central argument was that women should demand that the rules be equally applied.
But what if the rules of the game have been grinding us into the ground?
